Great diving beetle of the diving beetle family is an aquatic species indigenous to Europe, mainly England, and northern Asia. These beetles mostly prefer slow running or still freshwater, particularly those with vegetation.
Size: Approximately 27 – 35 mm
Color: They have a brownish or blackish-green body with their abdomen, legs, and wing case bordered in yellow.
Other Characteristic Features: Sexual dimorphism is prominent in their physical features. The males have shiny male cases, while in the females, the elytra appear finely grooved. The legs of male great diving beetles (first two pairs) are equipped with many suction cups to help them establish a grip on females during mating and catch their prey. These beetles even have bigger jaws in comparison to their bodies.
The larvae have a pale brown body reaching a length of about 60 mm. Their large size and big jaws give the larvae a fearful look.
The larvae mostly pupate on the damp soil near the water bodies they inhabit.
The female lays eggs in the leaves present underwater, with the incubation period being from 17 to 19 days.
| Adult lifespan | Approximately 3 years |
| Duration of larval stage | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Europe (mostly England) and northern Asia |
| Habitat | Ponds billabongs, lakes, and other slow-moving water bodies |
| Common Predators | Fish, frogs, dragonflies |
| Seasons active from | April – October |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Aquatic insects and also fish |
Image Source: first-nature.com, warehouse1.indicia.org.uk, i.pinimg.com, lh3.googleusercontent.com, norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk, newforestnpa.gov
Great diving beetle of the diving beetle family is an aquatic species indigenous to Europe, mainly England, and northern Asia. These beetles mostly prefer slow running or still freshwater, particularly those with vegetation.
Size: Approximately 27 – 35 mm
Color: They have a brownish or blackish-green body with their abdomen, legs, and wing case bordered in yellow.
Other Characteristic Features: Sexual dimorphism is prominent in their physical features. The males have shiny male cases, while in the females, the elytra appear finely grooved. The legs of male great diving beetles (first two pairs) are equipped with many suction cups to help them establish a grip on females during mating and catch their prey. These beetles even have bigger jaws in comparison to their bodies.
The larvae have a pale brown body reaching a length of about 60 mm. Their large size and big jaws give the larvae a fearful look.
The larvae mostly pupate on the damp soil near the water bodies they inhabit.
The female lays eggs in the leaves present underwater, with the incubation period being from 17 to 19 days.
| Adult lifespan | Approximately 3 years |
| Duration of larval stage | Not recorded |
| Distribution | Europe (mostly England) and northern Asia |
| Habitat | Ponds billabongs, lakes, and other slow-moving water bodies |
| Common Predators | Fish, frogs, dragonflies |
| Seasons active from | April – October |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Aquatic insects and also fish |
Image Source: first-nature.com, warehouse1.indicia.org.uk, i.pinimg.com, lh3.googleusercontent.com, norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk, newforestnpa.gov
